Lot
4089 
(Route 7309) Steam Boat Southern Belle, blue oval handstamp with matching "Route 7309" oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Washington D.C., black "New Orleans La. Feb 7" cds and matching "Way" handstamp cancels indicia; couple tiny edge tears and flap opening cut, Very Fine and choice, ex-Eggen; with 1976 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 1284 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The "Southern Bell" was one of five steamboats for contact carriage of mail between 1855-1858 on Route 7209. Thereafter the route number became 8165. Captain Thos. P. Leathers and Captain Truman C. Holmes held the contract.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
4090
(Route 7309) Steam Boat Southern Belle, red oval handstamp on cover from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., red "New Orleans La Sep 15" cds and black "Steam 5" rating handstamp, endorsed "Southern Belle" at lower left; typical filing holes, Very Fine. Milgram No. 1285 Estimate $150 - 200.
Lot
4091
(Route 8106) Vicksburg & N.O. M. Line. R.R., May 21 1873, complete strike of route agent cds on 3¢ green entire from Vicksburg Miss. to New Orleans La., Extremely Fine, previously unrecorded marking, ex-Floyd Risvold. Estimate $300 - 400.
The route of 408 miles was contracted at $29,980 a year for three times a week service from 1870 to 1874. The "R.R." in this marking stands for river route, no railway existing for this route at this time.
Realized: $270
Lot
4092
(Route 8165) Steamer Magnolia, red flower-shaped handstamp on buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Canton Mi. Mar 30" cds from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La.; usual filing hole, Very Fine, ex-John Hill Jr.; with 1990 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 838 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS FANCY FLOWER-SHAPED HANDSTAMP.
The Magnolia of 842 tons was built at New Albany Ind. in 1859 was purchased by Holmes in early 1861.
Realized: $4,750
Lot
4093
(Route 8165) U.S. Mail Saturday Evening Packet Str. Natchez, route agent 8165 cds on blue folded bill of lading dated "26th April 1859" addressed to New Orleans accompanying 2,170 bales of cotton from Grand Gulph to New Orleans, endorsed "B/L", this shows that the Natchez whilst contracted as a mail packet also carried freight, contracts often forbade this, Very Fine and choice; with 1999 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 961 Estimate $600 - 800.
Realized: $750
Lot
4094
(Route 8165) U.S. Mail Saturday Evening Packet Str. Natchez, clear strike of route agent cds on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Rosedale La., red "Red River Landing, La. Nov 16" cds with day in manuscript, carried by the Natchez running Route 8165 from Vicksburg to New Orleans, probably landed at Brulee Landing to be carried on the post road west to Rosedale, 1858 docketing at left, F.-V.F. Milgram No. 961 Estimate $300 - 400.
This circular marking is actually a route agent's postmark rather than a typical vessel-named advertising marking. Note the "Route 8165" below the name of the vessel. This is the sixth "Natchez", built at Cincinnati in 1854. Leathers received his first mail contract for this boat together with two other boats. This was an unusual letter to be both picked up and dropped off on the course of a contract steamboat route.
Realized: $230
Lot
4095
(Route 8165) Passenger Packet Vicksburg, neat strike of fancy framed handstamp cancels 3¢ red Nesbitt buff entire from the Carroll Hoy & Co. correspondence to New Orleans La.; usual filing holes, Very Fine. Milgram No. 1409 Estimate $300 - 400.
The first "Vicksburg" was built in 1857 running New Orleans-Vicksburg. It went to Confederate registry in 1861 and she was rammed by the U.S. "Queen of the West" in February 1863.
Realized: $350
Lot
4096
(Route 8165) N.O. & Vicksburg R.M. Feb 3, clear strike of blue cds ties 3¢ dull red (26) on circa 1858 cover to Hard Times Landing, La., endorsed "Princess" at bottom left that was one of Thomas Leathers' steamboats used on Route 8165, Very Fine. Towle No. M-15-a Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
4097
(Route 8165) "N.O. & Vicksburg R.M. Apr 1", blue route agent cds ties 3¢ dull red (26) on folded March 27th 1858 prices current to St. Joseph, endorsed "Princess" and put onto the vessel April 1st, Very Fine. Towle No. M-15-a Estimate $150 - 200.
In addition to the "Natchez", Leather and Holmes used the "Princess" and "Vicksburg". Thomas Holmes acted as the Master of the "Princess" whilst Leathers was on the "Natchez". James M. White, a former competitor, became master of the "Vicksburg".
Lot
4098
(Route 8165) N.O. & Vicksburg Riv. M. Jan 20, cds cancels 3¢ red Nesbitt buff entire to Providence La., original enclosure datelined "New Orleans 20th Jany / 59", carried to Vicksburg on Route 8165 and then transferred to another vessel for delivery to Lake Providence; partial flap, edges mostly separated and some light staining, Fine. Towle No. M-15-q Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $350